USPTO Launches PIER Pilot Program Creating New Pre-Examination Decision Point for PCT National Stage Applications
Key Takeaway: The USPTO’s new PIER Pilot Program requires applicants in selected PCT national stage applications to affirmatively decide whether to proceed with, delay, or abandon U.S. patent examination. Participation...
The Solar IP Landscape in the U.S. and China Is Heating Up
Key Takeaway: Recent developments in the U.S. and China highlight that strong patent strategy and IP risk management are critical for companies operating in the solar supply chain. In March...
Knobbe Martens Delivers Federal Circuit Win for Lupin in Hatch-Waxman Dispute Involving Kidney Disease Drug
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 21, 2026 – A team from Knobbe Martens secured a substantial appellate victory on behalf of Lupin Ltd., ensuring patients a cost-effective option for treating life-threatening kidney...
Three Knobbe Martens Partners Named Among Top IP Lawyers in California by Daily Journal
Sheila Swaroop, Brian Horne and Joseph Re recognized for strength in intellectual property litigation IRVINE, Calif., May 20, 2026 – Reflecting the firm’s strengths in high-stakes litigation, Knobbe Martens is...
Winning Strategies for IP Enforcement at the U.S. International Trade Commission
In this episode of Knobbe IP+, Knobbe Martens’ ITC Litigation Co-Chairs Jonathan Bachand and Sheila Swaroop answer some of the most asked questions about IP enforcement and Section 337 investigations...
Johnson & Johnson to Acquire Atraverse Medical
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) reported on April 24, 2026, that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Atraverse Medical, a company in the cardiovascular medical device sector, for an undisclosed amount. The deal...
eVTOL Takes Flight: Navigating Certification, Regulation, and IP in Advanced Air Mobility
Key Takeaways: eVTOL aircraft are moving toward real-world deployment, but certification remains a critical hurdle alongside early operational programs like the FAA’s eIPP. As companies advance in parallel, careful coordination...
Drummond Scientific Expands MedTech Operations with Accu-Glass Acquisition
Recently, Drummond Scientific Company announced its acquisition of Accu-Glass. Drummond, headquartered near Philadelphia, has more than 75 years of experience in precision manufacturing for the life sciences and medical technology industries, including the manufacture of medical...
Jeff Van Hoosear Shares Trademark Protection Strategies for Namesake Beauty Brands in BeautyMatter
In a recent BeautyMatter article exploring the legal complexities of trademark ownership and brand protection in the beauty industry, Knobbe Martens partner Jeff Van Hoosear shared insights on trademark registration,...
USPTO Director Signals Continued Pro-Patent Discretionary Denial Policy at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board
Key Takeaway: In a precedential decision in Magnolia Medical Technologies, Inc. v. Kurin, Inc., USPTO Director Squires denied IPR institution and reinforced the policy framework for discretionary denial at the...
PTAB Update | April 2026
USPTO Introduces Pre-Order Papers for Patent Owners in Ex Parte Reexaminations Jarom D. Kesler & Joshua M. Martineau With the decline of inter partes review (IPR) proceedings and the significant...
Dan Gibson Discusses How AI, Cloud Gaming, and Games-as-a-Service Are Reshaping Patent Strategy in the Video Game Industry
In a recent feature by Parola Analytics, Knobbe Martens partner Dan Gibson shared insights on how intellectual property and patent strategy are evolving in the video game industry amid advances...
Taylor Swift, Trademarks, and the Pursuit of a Federal Right of Publicity
Key Takeaway: Taylor Swift’s recent trademark filings for her voice and likeness point to a growing trend among celebrities and high-profile individuals using federal trademark law—rather than relying solely on...
Drilling for Gold: How the Next Geothermal Rush Is Creating a New Patent Battleground
Key Takeaways: Technological advancements in geothermal exploration and drilling are reducing uncertainty and lowering risk profiles, making private investors and lenders more willing to commit capital that was historically constrained...
Federal Circuit Review | April 2026
April Federal Circuit Newsletter (Japanese) April Federal Circuit Newsletter (Chinese) Invisible But Invalidating: Undisclosed Functionality Still Triggers On-Sale Bar In Definitive Holdings, LLC v. Powerteq LLC, Appeal No. 24-1761,...
Kregg Koch Discusses How Medtech Innovators Can Build a Stronger IP Strategy Through Patent Filing, Portfolio Development, and AI
In an article published by nonprofit educational medtech incubator Fogarty Innovation, Knobbe Martens partner Kregg Koch shared practical strategies for medtech companies and entrepreneurs looking to protect and maximize the...
Federal Circuit Confirms Patent Eligibility of Gene Therapy Patent in Regenexbio Inc. v. Sarepta Therapeutics
Key Takeaway: Genetically engineered cultured host cells containing recombinant nucleic acids useful for gene therapy are patent-eligible for being markedly different from anything occurring in nature. In REGENXBIO Inc. v....
Trademark & Brand Protection Update | April 2026
Thaler v. Perlmutter: Human Authorship Remains a Cornerstone Requirement for Copyright Registration Ian W. Gillies & Dillon A. Koch The Supreme Court denied certiorari of the D.C. Circuit’s holding that works...
Knobbe Martens Lawyers Explore Trademark Risks of Athlete Jersey Number Branding in Sports Business Journal
In their recent Sports Business Journal article, Knobbe Martens lawyers Jonathan Hyman, Jonathan Menkes, and Edward Nester examine a growing IP challenge in the sports industry: what happens when an...
Life Science Update | April 2026
One Battle After Another: Broad Institute Wins at PTAB in CRISPR Dispute Eric Furman, Ph.D. & Alistair J. McIntyre Interference proceedings, though increasingly rare, are heavily evidence-based and determine which...
Aerospace Update | April 2026
Space Force Awards Kratos $447 Million Contract for Missile Warning Tracking Lizzy T. Do & Scott Cromar Kratos wins $447 million contract with U.S. Space Force to develop a ground...
